Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-08

ent taxation and tho available revenue after
providing for the constitutional appropriation
for government, schools. and othor public OK
penditures.n
Although these resolutions have not
so far been met by the government in
the manner in which il was expected,
the committee are not without hope
that the growing revulsion in public
opinion in favor of the bondholders
will result before long in favorable
change of policy.
"In pursuance OF these resolutions
the committee determined TO take some
steps to make known in Virginia the
rights OF taxpayers to the use and
facilitate the sale of coupons. Mr.. j.
J.. Cooper was accordingly authorized
10 proceed to Virginia, since when he
has been actively engaged in prose
cutting the objecti in view and although
it would be premature to estimate the
measure OF his success, il may be festi-
mated that about 25per cent. of the taxes
paid on December / 1886, have been
discharged in coupons, and that still
larger percentage Of those which have
vet to be collected in the spring will be
paid in the same medium. Agents have
been established in most OF the large
towns for the purpose of furnishing
coupons to taxpayers in their neigh
borhood, and affording them the neces-
sary guarantee of legal protection in
case OF molestation by the State officials.
The committee gladly bear testimony
to the assistance and encouragement
rendered to Mr.. Cooper by many of the
better class of the community in Vir-
ginia in the prosecution of his mission.
In further pursuance of the resolu-
tons passed at the bondholders' meet
ing on September oath, the committee
decided to take steps to call IN the va
rious classes Of bonds on memoran-
DUN of deposit and issue certificates in
exchange for them on the payment of
an assessment fixed at l per cent. on
consols and per cent. on the 10-f0s,
being the same as that for the previous
registration, begun in 1882. The adj
vertisements calling on bondholders to
lodge their bonds were published on
December 18th, aud the deposit is now
being carried on at Messrs. Martin &
Co. S, of 68 Lombard street. The re-
Spouse made by the bondholders to this
appeal has so far been satisfactory.
"Ihe present disposition of the pub
lie mind in Virginia, which operates so
considerably to the detriment of the
rights of the bondholders, is largely
due to the extraordinary activity of the
politicians, supported by the principal
organs in the press, and, although the
committee recognize the support which
the cause of honesty is now receiving
at the hands of the more respectable
Gournals in Virginia, they will not
neglect, if circumstances should re-
quire it, to take steps to lay their case
fairly before the citizens of Virginia in
the hope of counteracting the fallacies
and Misrepresentation which are so
industriously disseminated by those
whose interest it is to keep the debt
question unsettled.
'This Is no "estimate," but a bold guess.
Our total annual revenue should be about
t2,700,000; OF which considerable proportion
is disbursed by treasurers, for schools in their
respective districts, and paid, Of course, In
cash. OF this sum entitled 10 this credit about
one half is usually paid In by the LIST OF Deem
Der. That would be, say, 81 1850, 900. The amount
returned by the Auditor Of Public Accounts as
rendered in coupons up 10 that day, 1885, was,
az -e are informed, f105, sol Clan increass OF
100 per cent. on the average OF tender for the
two previous years: whereas 25 per- cent would
have been $337, 500.